Compare towns
Castleton vs Royalton vs Putney vs Fair Haven
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Royalton has the highest household income ($104k).
Putney has the most expensive homes ($300k median).
Fair Haven has grown the fastest since 2010 (+0.1%).
What matters to you?
Pick a few. We’ll pull those rows to the top and mark which town comes out ahead on each. There’s no overall score: what matters is up to you.
| Measure | Castleton | Royalton | Putney | Fair Haven |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 4,453Highest |
2,752 |
2,622Lowest |
2,724 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -5.5%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
-0.8% VT: +2.8% |
-3.1% VT: +2.8% |
+0.1%Highest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 38.3±4.3 11% below VT |
43.9±10.1Highest about the VT average |
37.2±5.2Lowest 14% below VT |
39.2±7.6 9% below VT |
| Royalton and Fair Haven are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 18.8%±6.4 VT: 17.9% |
14.4%±5.8Lowest VT: 17.9% |
15.4%±4.1 VT: 17.9% |
19.4%±5.1Highest VT: 17.9% |
| Fair Haven and Castleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 20.7%±4.6 VT: 21.4% |
22.1%±6.4Highest VT: 21.4% |
18.1%±3.8Lowest VT: 21.4% |
18.4%±4.5 VT: 21.4% |
| Royalton and Castleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 37.9% VT: 43.8% |
42.6% VT: 43.8% |
48.6%Highest VT: 43.8% |
23.7%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 19.3%±1.8 VT: 7% |
8%±4.2 VT: 7% |
20.4%±3.4Highest VT: 7% |
4.1%±2.9Lowest VT: 7% |
| Putney and Castleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $73,854±$23k 9% below VT |
$103,938±$24kHighest 28% above VT |
$79,706±$18k about the VT average |
$62,404±$16kLowest 23% below VT |
| Royalton and Putney are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $224,800±$71k 29% below VT |
$263,200±$73k 17% below VT |
$300,000±$44kHighest 5% below VT |
$176,500±$14kLowest 44% below VT |
| Putney and Royalton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,137±$195Highest 8% below VT |
$1,040±$391 16% below VT |
$508±$482Lowest 59% below VT |
$830±$116 33% below VT |
| Castleton and Royalton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,167Lowest 37% below VT |
$4,675 7% below VT |
$5,313Highest 5% above VT |
$3,865 23% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 67.7%±21.9Highest VT: 48.4% |
36.7%±16.1Lowest VT: 48.4% |
54.2%±19.4 VT: 48.4% |
50.9%±20.9 VT: 48.4% |
| Castleton and Putney are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 12.5%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
13% VT: 10.1% |
16% VT: 10.1% |
18.9%Highest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 79% VT: 73.2% |
63.5%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
72.8% VT: 73.2% |
80.6%Highest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1974 2 yrs older than VT |
1965 11 yrs older than VT |
1977Highest 1 yr newer than VT |
1938Lowest 38 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 19 min 17% below VT |
20 min 13% below VT |
18 minLowest 24% below VT |
31 minHighest 31% above VT |
| Work from home | 6.2%±3.9 VT: 16.9% |
17.8%±7.3Highest VT: 16.9% |
16.9%±6.5 VT: 16.9% |
4.3%±2.5Lowest VT: 16.9% |
| Royalton and Putney are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Schools | ||||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #39 of 70 in VT | #48 of 70 in VT | #32 of 70 in VT | #66 of 70 in VT |
| School district | Slate Valley Unified Union School District #62 | White River Unified School District #79 | Windham Southeast Unified Union School District #96 | Slate Valley Unified Union School District #62 |
| High school in town | None in town | White River Valley High School | None in town | Fair Haven Union Middle and High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 8.7Lowest |
— | 12.8Highest |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in Our Story | None yet | None yet | None yet | None yet |
VT average · Sources: U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-year estimates 2020–2024; 2010 & 2020 decennial census; NCES Common Core of Data. “±” is the Census margin of error. Property tax is top-coded by the Census at $10,000+. School rank compares math and reading proficiency against the state average.